Henrietta Infrared Camera
Unveiling the Atmospheres of Distant Worlds
Once completed and installed on the Swope telescope at Carnegie Science's Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, Henrietta will expand our understanding of planets beyond our Solar System. This infrared instrument is named in honor of the esteemed astronomer Henrietta Hill Swope, who studied variable stars called Cephieds, which have a fixed relationship between their luminosity and their period, enabling astronomers to use them as distance candles.
Revolutionizing Exoplanetary Atmosphere Research
Exoplanets—planets orbiting stars outside our Solar System—are being discovered at an unprecedented pace. Yet, our knowledge of these distant worlds remains limited primarily to their sizes and masses. The designers and engineers behind Henrietta seek to transcend this by focusing on a new frontier: The detailed study of exoplanetary atmospheres.
Using state-of-the-art optical diffuser technology, Henrietta will scan the atmospheres of these distant planets by observing the subtle dimming of starlight as a planet passes in front of its host star. Some molecules absorb infrared light. If these planets have atmospheres that contain these molecules, then the starlight will show even greater dimming in specific color wavelengths. This will enable scientists to detect their presence using Henrietta. These "molecular shadows" provide critical insights into the composition and characteristics of these atmospheres, from the presence of water vapor to complex organic molecules.
In the figure above, you can see that the planet's “blue” atmosphere is back lit by the host star, which allows us to observe it. Although the planet would be functionally invisible from Earth, this effect could be detected using Henrietta.
A Leap in Technological Innovation
Henrietta's innovative design will make it the premiere instrument for atmospheric studies in use on any ground-based telescope. By enabling high-precision measurements, Henrietta is expected to achieve in one year what has taken astronomers a decade—cataloging the atmospheres of 50 exoplanets. This instrument not only promises to revolutionize our understanding of planetary atmospheres, but will also serve as a prototype for the upcoming MIRMOS instrument, which will set new standards in observational astronomy when it's completed and placed on the 6.5-meter Magellan Telescope at Carnegie Science's Las Campanas Observatory.
Meet the Henrietta TEam
Continuing a Legacy of Discovery
Henrietta represents the next chapter in Carnegie Science’s long history of developing world-class astronomical instruments. Just as Henrietta Hill Swope contributed to the study of variable stars, the instrument bearing her name will probe the variability in starlight caused by orbiting exoplanets. Through these efforts, we aim to unlock the secrets of planetary formation and evolution, providing a deeper understanding of our universe.
By continuing to innovate and explore, Carnegie Science remains at the forefront of astronomical research, building on more than a century of discoveries that have transformed our view of the cosmos.
